We Are Moving On To Victory, With Hope and Dignity (Seeger Singing). New York State’s 200,000 domestic workers are moving toward a significant legislative victory. Domestic Workers United, an organization of thousands of nannies, housekeepers and elder care workers, went going to Albany Tuesday February 10, 2009 to lobby for the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. I went with. Update Post Jump.

These workers, largely immigrant women of color, are not “employees” for most purposes under New York State’s Labor Law. Their Bill of Rights will put that right. In 2008, the bill, A01470, gained more than 60 supporters in the NYS Assembly. Sponsored by Keith Wright (and co-sponsored by among other, my Assembly Member Brian Kavanaugh) the bill was acted on favorably by the Assembly Labor Committee (25-1). The Bill of Rights has gotten major support from the NYC Central Labor Council, from AFL-CIO President John Sweeny, Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith (as an individual) and progressive organizations (eg: Jews For Racial & Economic Justice and CODA, the Lower East Side Political Organization).

You can help without going to icy Albany.  read more »

I know, the weather out side is frightful but the fire is so delightful . I’d been off riding while repairing vandalism to my road bike (an old Schwinn) and now some of my pants feel tight. Repairs, however, a break in the weather Saturday morning and a steady stream of emails from some favorite cycling organization have got me going again. Here are four mass rides I plan to help put on. They all cost money to go on. And they are very different. Consider coming with.

Bike New York has already opened registration for the TD Bank 5 Boro Bike Tour . This 42-mile ride brings out tens of thousands of riders because it is truly closed cell. Vehicle traffic is completely shut down along the route. As a result, parents and children turn out in huge numbers. (The kids seems always to ride faster than their parents.) On Sunday May 3, it starts at the Battery in lower Manhattan and ends at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island. Because I ride toward the end, fixing flats, handing out water & snacks, I plan to eat dinner in SI. Any suggested places?  read more »

Perhaps it's not true It's True! Drum Major Institute Director Andrea Batista Schlesinger has been hired by Mayor Bloomberg's Re-Election Campaign according to many reports. Liz B has the resignation letter and more here .

The Drum Major Institute , under Schlesinger has been an active and useful center of progressive thought. The Bloomberg administration has -- for the last eight years -- been a model of government for and by the rich against the rest of us.

Will Mr. Bloomberg change under the sway of a new adviser? Will Ms. Schlesinger become an apologist for Mr. Bloomberg's racist stop and frisk policing? Will she become a defender of race-based marijuana arrests? Will she defend housing for the rich? The fact the Ms Schlesinger was hired by the campaign is a clear statement that Mr. Bloomberg's campaign will run toward the left. Will he begin to govern from the left? Well his proposed budget shows no sign of it thus far. Perhaps some progressive adviser will suggest less regressive funding scenarios. See also Errol Lewis in Thursday's Daily News Want more? Review the issues from the point of view of DMI Board Member Tom Watson who supports Ms. Schlesinger's decision (Hat tip: Liz B) Stay tuned. Not a prank.

Ms. Schlesinger will go leave of absence the Drum Major Institute announces and be replaced on an interim basis by Mark Winston Griffith (also a very smart thinker -- in my view).  read more »

Amid signs of deepening GOP-Bush developed depression , GOP Congress Members want what? Tax cuts for the rich? Of course. Should they worry? Will we remember them? GOP congressional leaders want to be remembered for their opposition to the stimulus From the people who brought you wage stagnation, predatory lending, job export, unemployment and depression – they just don’t care. Peter King, Christopher Lee – we will remember you. And Obama political allies are already looking at Senate stimulus opponents.

If there's a GOP or Blue Dog who doesn't face serious challenge in 2010, shame on us

More on getting worse? Try here  read more »

Thanks to the efforts of mass transportation advocates led on the ground by Transportation Alternatives, Streetsblog, and, nationally by Transportation For America and in Congress by NYC's own Congress Member Jerrold Nadler , the House of Representatives has voted to increase the mass transit portion of the stimulus package by $3 billion (check here for a blow-by-blow of the debate & vote)

Update. So much for Bipartisanship The stimulus package passed the House Tuesday night 244-188. Not one Republican voted for the stimulus, 11 Democrats voted against. The Times added a great map which identifies the 11 Democratic nay-sayers and GOP allies by district. Moveon seeks ad cash to soften GOP Senators' stimulus opposition.  read more »